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Going To Sochi? You May Want To Think Twice Before Driving

In coming days, many people will flock to Sochi for the Winter Olympic Games. News accounts warning of possible terrorist attacks have been circulating for sometime, and cyber security incidents have already been reported.

But there is another, serious threat that many travelers may not be aware of: Russia’s roads.

“You may encounter road conditions and driver safety norms that differ significantly from those in the United States,” the U.S. Department of State writes.

Just how safe is traveling by car or public transportation in and around Sochi?

The group provided a synopsis of road conditions in the Russian Federation, based on its country-specific Road Travel Report, to offer insight into its road safety culture.

(AP Image)

Road crashes are common in Russia. Annual fatalities are about three times what they are in France and about five times what they are in Sweden, according to the group. Common factors for crashes include: aggressive driving; speeding; many vehicles that are old and in poor condition; inadequate driver training and law enforcement; inadequate or non-existent road markings; and poor road conditions.

Among developed countries, Russian roads are ranked 101st out of 144 for road infrastructure and 136th for road quality. The road network is inadequate to handle the country’s rapidly expanding vehicle fleet, and 60% of existing bridges do not meet required standards and should be strengthened and/or widened to meet present-day load safety requirements, ASIRT said, noting that roads and bridges built in some areas to support the 2014 Olympic Games and 2018 World Cup do not always meet European standards.

Here are a few highlights from the Russian Road Travel Report about driver behavior:

It is not unusual for drivers to: pass on the right, tailgate, cross solid lines, make illegal U-turns, ignore road markings, block intersections and fail to obey traffic laws.

Drivers also often fail to: yield right of way, use traffic signals, slow down to let others pass or dim high beams for oncoming traffic.

Driving under the influence of alcohol has been a big issue for the nation , said Rochelle Sobel, ASIRT’s founder, but deaths from alcohol-related crashes have decreased by an average of 12% annually in recent years. But ” due to the holiday spirit during the games, the problem may be exacerbated,” as drinking often increases when there is a celebratory atmosphere, she said. And for travelers – as drivers or pedestrians– defenses are often lowered when on vacation.

Pedestrians may be at particular risk, the group said, as drivers often fail to yield to them and road signs around pedestrian crossings are often absent.

And traveling at night on the roads is strongly discouraged, especially outside of major cities, as cars may lack brake lights and may have only one functional headlight. And driver fatigue and the use of alcohol and drugs are more common at night.

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